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Clowning around in Mexico City

Clowns raise their official clown rule book while others without the rule book raise an imaginary one as they stand in line to register on the first day of the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Oct. 21, 2013.

The main objective of the convention is to professionalize those involved in the clown arts in Latin America and highlight the need for a School of Clown Arts in Mexico.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

Clowns listen during a workshop on the second day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City, Oct. 22, 2013.

Hundreds of clowns from Mexico and Latin America gathered to brush up on their clown techniques and learn new laugh-inducing tricks.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

A pair of clowns talk backstage prior to giving a special award to a clown on the second day of the 17th International Clown Convention at a theater in Mexico City, Oct. 22, 2013.

Despite their elaborate face paint, weird wigs and rubber noses of different sizes, the clowns reveal a slice of the humanity they seek to entertain: happy and sad, pensive and exuberant, playful and macabre.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

Clowns pictured at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City in a 2013 file photo

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

Clowns wait for the start of a laugh-a-thon on the third day of activities at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Oct. 23, 2013.

They sought a world laugh record but no Guinness official was seen present and they fell short by 15 minutes.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

Wearing oversized shoes, a pair of clowns wait to participate in a laugh-a-thon at the the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Oct. 23, 2013.

The laugh-a-thon was to protest violence in Mexico.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

A clown relaxes against a wall on the first day of the 17th International Clown convention at a theater in Mexico City, Oct. 21, 2013.

Wearing oversized shoes, colorful wigs and red noses, the clowns lined up to register for the convention at a theater in Mexico's capital.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

A young clown blows on a trumpet while performing with other clowns on the third day of the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Oct. 23, 2013.

Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

A clown carrying his daughter waits for the start of a laugh-a-thon at the 17th International Clown Convention in Mexico City, Oct. 23, 2013.